Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Latest By
Category:
Armor
Artificial
Intelligence
Biology
Clothing
Communication
Computers
Culture
Data Storage
Displays
Engineering
Entertainment
Food
Input Devices
Lifestyle
Living Space
Manufacturing
Material
Media
Medical
Miscellaneous
Robotics
Security
Space Tech
Spacecraft
Surveillance
Transportation
Travel
Vehicle
Virtual
Person
Warfare
Weapon
Work
"Every scientist worth his salt that I know of has read science fiction."
- Greg Bear
 |
| Pray-o-Mat | ||
| A device that would offer prayers in exchange for a few coins properly deposited. |
| It was a machine, gleaming and metallic, before which they moved.
 (The Pray-o-Mat from 'Lord of Light' by Roger Zelazny) A man inserted a coin into the mouth of a steel tiger. The machine began to purr. He pressed buttons cast in the likenesses of animals and demons. There came then a flashing of lights along the lengths of the Nagas, the two holy serpents who twisted about the transparent face of the machine. The man drew down upon the lever that grew from the side of the machine cast in the likeness of the tail of a fish. A holy blue light filled the interior of the machine; the serpents pulsed redly; and there, in the midst of the light and a soft music that had begun to play a prayer wheel swung into view and began spinning at a furious pace. The man wore a beatific expression. |
| Technovelgy from Lord of Light,
by Roger Zelazny. Published by Doubleday in 1967 Additional resources -
|
The buttons spell out the name, occupation and address of the supplicant.
What would you call such a device?
"Yes," said Jan. "They appeared about two years ago - dreamed up by young Leonardo over a short glass of soma one night. Now that the karma idea has caught on, the things are better than tax collectors. When mister citizen presents himself at the clinic of the god of the church of his choice on the eve of his sixtieth year, his prayer account is said to be considered along with his sin account, in deciding the caste he will enter - as well as the age, sex and health of the body he will receive. Nice. Neat."
"That is different," said Brahma. "As a divine manifestation, it is held in awe by the citizens and is not questioned for religious reasons..."
"Supposing some local atheist hijacks one and picks it apart? And supposing he happens to be a Thomas Edison? What then?
"They have tricky combination locks on them. If anyone other than a priest opens one, it will blow up and take him along with it."
"Tell me, I saw a machine this morning which I think may best be described as a pray-o-mat - are they very common?"
The corrupt reincarnation scheme run by the original settlers of the planet make sure that the level of civilization never rises above that of simple faith. Here's how they make sure that the pray-o-mats are never reverse-engineered.
"What of the pray-o-mat which squats before this very temple? Is it on a par, culturally, with a chariot?"
Comment/Join this discussion ( 0 ) | RSS/XML | Blog This |
Additional
resources:
More Ideas
and Technology from Lord of Light
More Ideas
and Technology by Roger Zelazny
Tech news articles related to Lord of Light
Tech news articles related to works by Roger Zelazny
Pray-o-Mat-related
news articles:
- Nokia N73 Preloaded For Ramadan
- Sajjdah 1426 LED Prayer Rug Has Mecca-Glow
- Information Age Prayer Pray-O-Mat
- See Jesus? There's An App For That
- Trinity Chapel Offers Giving Kiosk
- Kollektomat Tithing Machine
- Drones Participate In Buddhist Rites
| Has Elon Musk Given Up On Mars? |
| 'They Erased My Memory' Says Ariana Grande |
| 'Spikeless' Brand Swizzle Stick Detects Spiked Drinks |
| Musk Proposes Sites For Martian Cities |
Want to Contribute an
Item?
It's easy:
Get the name of the item, a
quote, the book's name and the author's name, and Add
it here.
| <Previous | Next> |
|
|
|
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Science Fiction Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
|
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
'The peculiar quality of this light, which gave it its great preeminence over all other penetrating rays...'
'The overworked leg motor would have to cool down before he could work on it...'
‘Where to, sport?’ the starter at cab relay asked.
This is nothing new for science fiction fans!
'Their only check on the growth and development of Vulcan 3 lay in two clues: the amount of rock thrown up to the surface... and the amount of the raw materials and tools and parts which the computer requested.'
'I guess there's nobody round this table who doesn't have a Crosswell [tapeworm] working for him in the small intestine.'
'Figments of his mind in one sense, of course, for he had shaped them...'
